We find ourselves in situations where it is a must, but of course the manufacturer neither condones it nor says it's a no no, and this makes it hard for a big corporation to be clear in rulings also. They all go by the manual in the machine. So question the two stage front rigger of say a 39m schwing, do you guys extend your rigger all the way then pull the second in to the lock point at the first section, then pad down. I knew this would be hard to explain, but the first section seems beefy enough, we as operators want this ruling to be clear as we want to do this for more stability of hills when short rigging is needed, My hair goes on end at times when swinging boom towards front sometimes, just the worry factor as the shwing is very solid but I still have that what if thing going on. I like if room allows to extend the opposite rigger atleast one section out, and make sure it is out all the way the second extension left inside, making sure they are both in and out to the strength points. The rule is all the way out or all the way in. Hope the question is clear, I tend to ramble. I have called schwing, but supervisors want it on paper UGGGG.

The problem with partial extension is that when you jack down the foot, that section of outrigger creates a downward force on the inside of the next outrigger section...it's like a lever action, with the intersection of the two outrigger parts being the fulcrum of the lever. When the outrigger is fully extended, that downward force is taken up by reinforcements that line up between the outside outrigger box with the inside outrigger box. If you're completely retracted, the downward force doesn't happen. If you're partially extended, the downward force happens where there are no reinforcements, and damage can occur. (Much easier to show with artwork than to describe. I'll attach some artwork to accompany this.) With three-section outriggers, like on the Schwing 39X, it would be possible to retract the outermost outrigger completely into the middle section, leaving only the middle section fully extended, without doing damage to the outrigger system. Of course, you'd still tip over if you forgot and swung the boom over the partially extended outrigger. if I were in a shortrigged situation, I would do that, just to give me that split second of "oh shit!" insurance to account for brain farts. Manufacturers are (rightly) very concerned about giving you permission to shortrig. Your brain-fart turns into their multi-million dollar lawsuit. But we all know shortrigging (on the side away from the pour) happens all over the world every day. If I'm the operator, I give myself as much brain-fart forgiveness insurance as I can get.

Here is a link to that PDF so you can take a better look at it.

http://www.concretepumping.com/download/Partial3Way.pdf

always remember keep boom in between the 2 fully extended outriggers and you will be fine.put safety cone on outriggers and something on your remote to remind you or even better have a spotter.

Thank you Mr.Ed and Todd, yes I wanted to explain the brain fart factor to the bosses, I just believe the extra footprint helps settle down the worries and makes sense when you have the room. Great information guys Thank you so much this will help.

Thanks Boony you bet, we have seen this happen all to many times. I just want the extra footprint, for the comfort factor, On hills trying to level the machine can be un- nerving of course, the what if, devil on my shoulder is screaming at me hehehe, so footprint to me is a comfort issue. We have enough to think about in mountain situations and the comfort factor is one less, to worry about. This telescope outrigger issue has been argued in our firm long enough, we have to get the rule resolved for 11 operators. All the way in is not good enough for some operators and even though it is allowed, to operate in certain perimeters some refuse to do it, making it the other operators job as he is comfy with it. So I push to get this outrigger deployment a standard. Comfort less stress.

I try to mark a safe work zone with cones or some sort of markers to help with the brain farts.

I know the rule of thumb is all the way in or all the way out. My question is if i forget and swing to far will the outrigger break or will the truck turn over.I may have a bad habit of extending the rigger as far as i can regardless if its out all the way just in case i go to far it just feels safer than having it all the way in also i havent heard anything about having the boom straight up. that one be one of the times i would feel safe with it out some.

amen

My idea is that when you have them half out you will never have the boom over them anyway.. So their only function will be to get some more stability.. The forces will be much much lower then if you would drive your boom over them. So I always take them out as far as possible but dont runn the boom over them. 

Rear outriggers that swing out can cause dammage when you have them all the way in. So those I would for sure put out a bit.. 

Thats awsome. i feel the same way as long as your not over them!